Tube locking device



Oct. 6, 1959 w. TORNBERG TUBE LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 50, 1956 R O N E V m ATTORNEY United States Patent TUBE LOCKING DEVICE William Tornberg, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Application July 30, 1956, Serial No. 600,833 1 Claim. 01. 242-72 This invention relates to a tube locking device.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a device or means for removably supporting a tube in concentric relation to a shaft and while the improved device is not limited in its application, it is particularly adapted for use on a spreader wherein a roll of fabric having a tubular core is supported on a shaft and which spreader functions in association with a cutting table. While in such spreading machines relatively large diameter rolls of fabric are handled, it is nevertheless necessary to install new rolls on the shaft quite frequently and accordingly the time element involved in the replacement of fabric rollsbecomes an important factor.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a device disposable on a shaft which includes radially expansible means disposable within an end of a tube together with hand operable cam means disposable externally of the tube for expanding said expansible means into gripping engagement with the inner wall of the tube.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device, disposable on a shaft, for removably supporting a tube in concentric relation to the shaft and wherein said device includes a resilient member disposable within an adjacent end of the tube and which is normally in spaced relation to the inner wall of the tube and wherein the device further includes manually operable cam means disposable outwardly of said end of the tube and which is operative through intervening means for expanding the resilient member into frictional gripping engagement with the inner wall of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a unitary device which is capable of being secured to an imperforate shaft for frictionally engaging the inner wall of a tube for rotation of same with the shaft.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a fabric roll and core tube therefor in dot-and-dash lines and wherein the tube is shown in surrounding relation to a shaft preparatory to being secured in concentric relation thereto by the device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the device in operative association with one end of a tube and which view is partially in elevation and partially in vertical axial section, the device being shown in normal non-locking position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view as observed in the plane of line 3- 3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view as observed in the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view as observed from the right of Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the device in tube locking or gripping position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the improved device comprises a metallic tube which surrounds the shaft S adjacent one end thereof.

Patented Oct. 6, 1959 ice A metallic ring 11 is disposed on the forward end of the tube 10 and is rigidly secured thereto by means of a pair of screws 12.

One or more soft rubber rings 13 encircle the tube 10 and are disposed between the metallic ring 11 and a second metallic ring 14 which is freely axially movable on the metallic tube 10. A second metallic tube 15 freely surrounds the tube 10 with the forward end thereof loosely engaged with the ring 14.

A cam member 16 is freely supported on the rear end of the tube 10 and whose forward end loosely engages the rear end of the tube 15. i 1

A second cam member 17 is disposed rearwardly of cam member 16 and same is secured to the tube 10 as well as to the shaft S by means of screws 18, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The cam members 16 and 17 are provided on adjacent faces thereof with cooperatingcarn surfaces 19 whereby upon rotation of the cam member 16 relative to the fixed cam member 17, the tube 15 will be moved forwardly on tube 10 with a resulting lateral compression of the rubber ring or rings 13 and a corresponding radial expansion thereof for a purpose later to appear.

The cam members 16 and 17 are provided with diametrically opposed handles 16a. and 17a respectively for facilitating operation of the cams.

As is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the handles 16a and 17a are normally disposed in a vertical axial plane of the device with the rubber ring or rings 13 in their normal contracted positions and out of contact with the inner wall of the tube T, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

As is indicated in Fig. 5, in a tube locking operation, the handles 17:: remain in said plane while the handles 16a and the cam member 16 are rotated through a substantial angle with a resulting movement of tube 15 and ring 14 forwardly and a compression of the rubber ring or rings 13 between rings 11 and 14 whereby the same expand into frictional gripping engagement with the inner wall of tube T, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

It is to be particularly observed that the improved device is a unitary structure and is capable of being removably positioned on the shaft S upon moving same axially of the shaft from an end thereof and while the screws 18 connect the cam member 17 with the tube 10, they further frictionally engage the imperforate shaft S for rotation of the tube 10 therewith.

The improved device is, in fact, a unitary attachment since the screws 12 retain the ring 11 on one end of the tube 10 and the screws 18 retain the cam member 17 on the other end thereof and in the application of the unitary device, it is only necessary to slide the tube 10 over an end of the imperforate drive shaft S and then tighten the screws 13 against the smooth peripheral wall thereof.

A centering member 20 is adjustably secured to the shaft S adjacent the end of the tube 10 opposite the end in which the locking device is disposed and which includes a hub 20a and a plurality of radial ribs 20b, the hub and ribs are tapered from one end of the member to the other and the larger end faces the locking device thereby facilitating the application of the tube T onto the shaft S from the left end thereof as observed in Figs. 1 and 2. The centering member, it will be understood, is adjustably supported on the shaft by means of screws 21.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the tube T which supports a roll R is readily applicable to the shaft S from one end thereof and while the centering member 20 supports one end of the tube in concentric relation thereto the above referred to device not only centers the opposite end of the tube but acts and onto the locking means.

While the improved device is shown in a specific adaptation it is not limited thereto but may be used in various type machines requiring such a locking device.

Having setforth my invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, What I claim and desire to secure by US. Letters Patent is:

Unitary means for supporting a tube in concentric relation to a smooth surfaced drive shaft for rotation therewith, comprising an elongated tubular member for surrounding said shaft and adapted to be removably slid 'over the end of said shaft and for extension into one end of said tube, an abutment ring securedto the inner end of said tubular member, a rubber ring encircling said tubular member with onee face thereof engaging said abutment ring, a second abutment ring freely movably supported on said tubular member and being engageable with the opposite face of said rubber ring, a second tubular member freely surrounding said first tubular member with the forward end thereof normally loosely engaging said second abutment ring, a cam member 4 freely supported on the rear end of said first tubular member and being freely engageable with'the rear end of said second tubular member, a second cam member cooperating with said first cam member, said second cam member and said first tubular member being provided with axially aligned threaded apertures, screws disposed in said apertures for retaining said second cam member against rotation relative to said first tubular member, said screws being engageable with the smooth outer wall of said shaft for removably securing said first tubular member and said second cam member for rotation with said shaft, said cam members being provided References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,984 Morden Nov. 28, 1911 1,878,264 Claybourn Sept. 20, 1932 2,638,282 Prevost May 12, 1953 l FOREIGN PATENTS 261,853 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1926 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1928 

